The post-summer hiring spree continued in earnest this week, with Eversheds, Pinsent Masons, Clyde & Co, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and Dentons bolstering their benches with new partner hires.
Ashurst lost another partner this week, this time to Dentons in Italy, which strengthened its corporate, M&A and private equity practice in Rome with the hire of Aian Abbas along with associate Alma de Rosa and trainee Violetta Cozzone.
Abbas, who has a particular focus on corporate finance and leveraged finance transactions, has advised Oakley Capital on the acquisition of Facile.it and Mutui.it and assisted Quercus and Swisslife on the acquisition of ASI.
Federico Sutti, Dentons Italy managing partner said the hire was a step forward in the firm’s strategy to expand their corporate M&A practice. Dentons’ Rome office opened in July 2016.
Stefano Speroni, head of the corporate and M&A group in Italy added: ‘Aian’s addition to the team will significantly deepen our service offering to our clients, particularly in the private equity area, positioning our firm at the highest levels of this sector which will be crucial to our success in the years to come.’
Further afield, Pinsent Masons has added to its Australia offering with the hire of Ewan Robertson, a partner at Piper Alderman. Robertson’s main focus is on corporate and commercial work with an emphasis on transactional and projects work, M&A and joint ventures, particularly in the energy and resources sectors.
Head of Pinsent Masons Australia, David Rennick, said: ‘We’ve had an active first year of operation and have quickly developed to be one of the most experienced team of legal advisers in the Australian infrastructure market. Ewan’s expertise will broaden our corporate offering and strengthen our M&A capabilities.’
Meanwhile in the City, Gibson Dunn has continued its London expansion with private equity partner James Howe from Proskauer Rose, while Rob Ireland has returned to Clyde & Co as an aviation partner from Kennedys.
Ireland is a leading lawyer in the aviation sector, who previously spent nine years at Clyde & Co, including five at Beaumont and Son. He specialises in all aviation related liability issues, advising a range of insured clients and their insurers on claims, from those related to major catastrophes, to issues related to baggage, cargo, hull, and personal injury. He has extensive experience in litigation in England and Wales and has worked across legal systems globally.
Commenting on the hire of Ireland, Maria Cetta, a partner at Clyde & Co commented: ‘We’re delighted to welcome Rob back to Clyde & Co as he has an exceptional track record and reputation in the aviation industry, which will further add to our already market-leading position.’
Finally, Eversheds has taken two project finance partners from Norton Rose Fulbright, with energy and infrastructure duo Mark Dennison and Conrad Purcell both joining the firm.
kathryn.mccann@legalease.co.uk